I need a repeater, and tend to not trust integrated units. I'm perfectly comfy with soldering and assembling an über-repeater by sourcing the various parts ala a handbuilt PC. I just don't know what to buy! [more inside]
posted by Jack Karaoke
on May 6, 2015 -
3 answers

We are looking at moving to Ting. This will drop my husband's phone down from 3G to 2G. I don't know what that means. Is it capacity and, if so, for what? Speed? I just have no idea. He uses his phone primarily for texting. Phone calls and data usage happen but are pretty rare. Any help understanding this is much appreciated.
posted by harrietthespy
on Apr 23, 2015 -
14 answers

I'm based in the UK and will be spending a week somewhere that has no broadband. The reception on most networks seems to be changeable though it's strongest on Vodafone. Is there a 3G/4G wireless router that can take multiple SIM cards or dongles so that I can connect together more than one network and thus maximise my chances of getting connectivity?
posted by skylar
on Jul 5, 2014 -
4 answers

I own an old Samsung Galaxy SII Android phone. I've recently cancelled its 3G plan, so now it accesses the Internet exclusively through Wifi. This has apparently caused its GPS function to stop working when it's out of range of a Wifi network, which I hadn't expected.
I'd like to resume using it as a mobile GPS device without re-purchasing a 3G plan. Do you know whether this can be done? [more inside]
posted by foursentences
on Jun 27, 2014 -
19 answers

I want to be able to treat my android wifi hotspot like a router and moderate the content that I can access through it. Is there something like a hosts file I can use? I want to block distracting websites. [more inside]
posted by titanium_geek
on Oct 6, 2013 -
3 answers

I purchased a Spanish Vodafone sim card for use while on vacation and have successfully added credit (20 EUR) and then activated the Smart16 tariff which includes 1.5GB of data. How do I know how much of this is left? [more inside]
posted by samworm
on Aug 5, 2013 -
2 answers

Up until this morning, I have always been able to use my 3g network, make a call and browse the internet at the sametime on my iPhone 4s. This morning when I went to use my phone a message appeared (while connected to 3g) that stated, Cannot Verify Server Identity. Once I got that all figured out, the capability to use the internet while on 3g and talking on the phone was gone. I called Verizon and they claim this was never a feature on their iPhones and told me I must have a special phone. After some investigating, what they are telling me seems to be true, but I know that I have been able to do this the last year or two that I've had this phone.
I did it last night while talking to my brother and relaying information that I had looked up for him. But! 8 hours later this feature is now gone and only works when I'm hooked up to my wireless.
I'm just severely bugged that this is all of a sudden gone, when I can recall being in my car doing all this (safely parked) and talking to my husband while hes at work.
What could have happened? Was I just imagining this for the last couple years or did they somehow take this capability away from me this morning?
posted by Sweetmag
on Jul 14, 2013 -
5 answers

I've had an e-reader, but never a Kindle and never one with 3G. I understand the reading PDFs and mobi file part, but what else should I know about: what the 3G is good for; apps; hacks; subscribable Kindle-optimized content; the Kindle ecosystem? Besides Instapaper, are there other convert-stuff-to-read-on-your-ereader things I should know about? [more inside]
posted by Zed
on Feb 4, 2013 -
7 answers

My career in web design is progressing and I'm wondering how long I can get away with not shelling out for a data plan before it makes me look bad. [more inside]
posted by bleep
on Feb 3, 2013 -
28 answers

I am studying abroad for the semester in London. My flat mates and I are looking for an Internet solution that doesn't require a contract. We picked up a 3G hotspot from Three but it isn't very fast. Is it possible to get actual broadband service without a 12- or 18-month contract?
posted by Kronios
on Jan 13, 2013 -
12 answers

My friend is headed to London for eight nights and the hotel he is staying at has Internet for $20 a day. Is there a way around that? Is there a cheap "Mi-Fi" type 3g/wifi device available without a plan, or other tricks to leverage prepaid 3g for his and his wife's laptops? Just a 3g sim isn't enough as they will really need laptop wifi access.
posted by carlodio
on Dec 24, 2012 -
9 answers

I've had a smart phone (android nexus one) for a few years now, but have always gotten by with wifi access only. I just recently bit the bullet on 3g access. So what new things can I do now with my phone with my newfound wandering internet access?
posted by garlic
on Jul 13, 2012 -
10 answers

I have a an old iPhone 3G that was dropped and is now only showing a white screen or a grayish screen with some vertical stripes (or a black screen). Otherwise it seems to be working - it makes the "battery connection" noise when you plug it in, the "unlock click" when I swipe my finger in the unlock area, etc. Is this something the genius bar can help with, or is this sort of thing un-recoverable (or are there other options I should explore first)?
posted by mikepop
on Apr 9, 2012 -
7 answers

Kindle questions: 1) I want a device that I can read (mostly) 8.5" x 11" PDFs on without much scrolling (as opposed to page turning) and 2) use to look up prices of things (not just books) on Amazon and other sites. The iPad is great for these except it's too heavy to lug around and a bit too bright to read for hours and I'd prefer no monthly bill for price checking. I'm in Canada if that makes a difference. Is the Kindle appropriate and if so, which one? Also, is it easy to transfer my PDFs too? Can I access Dropbox, for instance? Thanks.
posted by You Should See the Other Guy
on Apr 7, 2012 -
27 answers

Cell phone question: Droid 3 user, on Verizon in coastal Maine. My phone only gets one bar of 1X data while roaming on US Cellular, while my girlfriend's CDMA Kindle and my brother's US Cellular phone get 3-4 bars of 3G data. The Verizon rep told me I should be able to get 3G from the US Cellular tower, but it's not happening. Does anyone know if there's any way to force my phone to roam on US Cellular's 3G? I know some people use custom PRLs, but this sort of thing is new to me and I'd like to do it properly. [more inside]
posted by dunkadunc
on Feb 9, 2012 -
6 answers

I just bought a 32 GB Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1, despite the fact that I was trying to buy a 32 GB Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 with 3G. What now? Return it and get what I wanted, or root my phone, save some cash, and move on? [more inside]
posted by Blue_Villain
on Jan 20, 2012 -
9 answers

I currently am on my parents plan with an iPhone 4 via AT&T for my phone/data. I would like to keep my phone and number, but move to T-Mobile on to my wife's plan. Is it true that 3G will not work as this article suggests? Can I use any other carrier beside AT&T without gimping my phone? Is there any chance in the future of compatibility with Tmobile?
Also: would this nullify my unlimited data with AT&T? Is it possible to get off my parent's plan and on to my own without losing unlimited data? (I was told they no longer offer it..)
posted by idyllhands
on Nov 4, 2011 -
8 answers

I need a pay as you go USB dongle for 3G wireless that will work with eee pc running Easy Peasy Ubuntu. This is in the UK. Contract will also be considered.
posted by By The Grace of God
on Oct 28, 2011 -
8 answers

as a san francisco bay area resident who is about to upgrade to the iphone 4s, should i stick with at&t (with grandfathered-in unlimited data package) or jump ship to verizon? [more inside]
posted by apostrophe
on Oct 11, 2011 -
15 answers

I'm in Canada and planning on buying a kindle, and am currently deciding whether I should buy a Kindle 3G, or stick with the Wi-fi only model. I'd like to use it at the cottage, where there is no Internet Access, but (not-so-great) 3G coverage. It seems like there are some restrictions on international kindles that don't exist in the U.S. [more inside]
posted by backwards guitar
on Aug 17, 2011 -
11 answers

Travelling through the East Coast of the USA, I would like to use my unlocked GSM phone (Nexus One) for data. My UK provider (T-Mobile) charges extortionate rates for this service. Can I buy a pay-as-you-go or other low cost SIM card in the USA which would give me cheap(ish) data on the road? [more inside]
posted by grahamwell
on Jul 4, 2011 -
6 answers

Buying a Kindle as a gift for a new high school grad going on to college (Yale). To 3G or not to 3G? I would imagine that on campus WiFi is ubiquitous, and so 3G isn't required? Personally, I love my WiFi-only Kindle, but I'm a techy who swims in WiFi waves 24/7. This grad is a non-techy classics major.
posted by schrodycat
on May 22, 2011 -
45 answers

iPad 3G cellular vs. wi-fi -- which takes precedence if both are active? If I have 3G cellular turned on, while sitting at home with my home wireless, does it use the faster home wireless? Or does the 3G just clobber everything and gleefully rack up data charges? I've been turning it on and off as needed, but that's just annoying, so I'd like to get the question settled once and for all.
posted by Cool Papa Bell
on Apr 5, 2011 -
7 answers

Which of Thailand's cellular companies offer The highest mobile 3g or 4g or whatever tech speed with unlimited plan in Bangkok area. And how much does it cost. Whether it is a USB or 3G or 4g SIM card.
posted by omaralarifi
on Mar 26, 2011 -
1 answer

When do device capabilities determine 3G possibilities?
I have two 3G devices, one is consistently nearly 2.5x faster than the other. Is this normal, or is something wrong? [more inside]
posted by bricksNmortar
on Jan 6, 2011 -
12 answers

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